A house with a lift!

Ingenius! Creative designs by Jo San @goodmorningmummy.

May come in useful one day when I have a house that needs a lift.

Great Expectations!

I've been thinking about what revenue streams I can create to support my new found property venture and I think we may have struck on a mum & daughter business. 

Just before bedtime, to take her away from the screen, I suggested Jo San design our next property project and here is the first design:

She's now on a roll - Watch this space for more designs! 

Chinese Takeaway

6 months of Chinese school and I'm happy to report that it's all going well. Jo San has even started practising her Chinese numbers at English school and her vocabulary is expanding. 

Chinese school has proven to be great for her confidence and independence. Not only is she happy to go, she literally jumps out of the car. The dropoff system is so efficient, we drive into the school grounds, stop the car briefly for a volunteer to help her out of the car and then we're off.  Now that's what I call drop-off!

Chinese School .... The mission begins.

Week one of Chinese School successfully completed. Despite protesting she didn't want to go all summer, Jo-San has suddenly become very interested in learning Chinese. Long may this continue.

The first lesson revolved around the Mid Autumn Festival and involved watching a video and making a lantern. All very festive and I was very proud to hear that she participated well and she was able to tell me what the video was about. Thinking she was watching the video and interpreting the story visually I thought this IS a good start, until I later found out the video was actually in English..... oh well at least she now knows there is a drum beating rabbit on the moon.

Another plus point, going to Chinese school Jo-San was very pleased to have a desk and chair where she could sit and lay out her pencil case and listen to the teacher..... even though she didn't have a clue what she was saying, she said it was nice to have her own 'place'. 

It's all about Kidzos. Work = Earn = Save = Spend

Finally made it to Kidzania yesterday with Jo-San and her buddy. Very glad we left it 'til now as I think it was a pretty good lesson in life skills, just as the place intended. 

After a rocky start we finally managed to convince the kiddies that if they got themselves a job they could earn some Kidzos (Kidzania money) to add to the collection they were given at the start. Jo-San's buddy was motivated by the prospect of his own credit card, whilst my little one just wanted to shop. 

Their reception year teacher will be proud! They used their counting, reading and observations skills to navigate around the shop as a cashier, stock manager in the department store, ice cream maker, air-con maintenance engineer and even made paper from recycled old newspaper to name a few jobs they did.

The more physically demanding jobs like fireman, policeman, courier were not appealing to my girl and neither were the squeamish and high responsibility roles like surgery or caring for a room full of babies in Alder Hey although a stint as a dentist putting in a filling was met with some bemusement. So no definite career path chosen as yet, although she still likes the idea of being a teacher just like Miss Musk. 

Armed with a wad of cash the buddies opened a bank account each with their hard earned kidzos and proceeded to try and spend it in the department store. The store didn't accept cards so they had to go and withdraw the cash ... which made the decision of spending even harder. 

Hopefully they've learned the value of money. That it doesn't grow on trees and that the more you work the more you get. The look of achievement on their faces when they came out with extra cash after having completed a job was priceless. 

As for the item she worked so hard for? Its discarded somewhere around the house already..... 

Thank you my lovely teacher!

Awww, tissues at the ready. 

Uniforms packed away for the summer! and no more school runs for 6 weeks. 

Today was Jo-San's last (half) day in Reception. Can't believe she has completed her first year of education. 

WOW! What a year! We had the most amazing teacher and as parents we couldn't of asked for a better start to our kid's educational journey. A sentiment I think I can safely say every mum in Jo-San's class shares. Everything has been an adventure, fun and full of laughter whilst still coming home reading, writing and occasionally showing her numeracy skills.

Never complaining and always keen to get there (albeit late 'cos we live a bit too close), long may this love for school continue.

"Thank you my lovely teacher!" & Happy Summer Holidays everyone!

Captain Courage really works!

Yesterday Jo-San brought home her Values of the month sticker - Courage.

And boy does Captain Courage really work!!

After 4 months of swimming lessons my little girl has finally jumped into the pool! No more watching other kids and thinking 'I want to do that but.....' or holding onto the instructors hand and walking off the edge.

Miss Cautious aka Miss Health & Safety has given way to Courage. The past month has seen her diving to the bottom of the pool, swim through hoops, constantly dunking herself and generally being very happy in the pool.

Now you might not think this is a big deal, but this is the girl that screamed getting in the bath and cries blue murder if water splashes on her face. Well now there's just no stopping her (apart from the inability to swim properly.)

A very proud mummy to say the least.

Courage is just one of the many values she has learnt from school and there are many - 22 I'm told! Not that I can name them all. But for this month, Courage is my favourite.